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Business News of Monday, 15 March 2004

Source: DAILY DISPATCH

We are in control, not IMF/WB -Osafo-Maafo

Ghana?s Finance Minister, Mr. Yaw Osafo-Maafo, has debunked allegations that the country is being run by the International Monetary Fund (IMF)/World Bank. ? We are in control,? he emphasised.

He explained that, ?about 85% of developing countries have development programmes with the IMF and the World Bank (it is usually both) you discuss with them the management of your economy and the targets you want to attain. You do so in the context of prudent economic management.

He said, there is no country, which believes that inflation or the rapid depreciation of the national currency is a good thing. ?If your room is dirty and somebody asks you to sweep it, it is not an insult you should have done it yourself in the first place?.

On the perception that the government is being pushed too much by the IMF/World Bank, Mr. Osafo-Maafo was frank: ?that is not true.